The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-01-29
THE BLACK DIAMOND.
BY AN ENGLISH EX-DETEcTIVE.



"To revenge myself upon her who
Tilted me for this Col. Graham. Am
gihad," said the Englishman, 81
don't mean to say that | ever loved
my cousin Annie but you know it
was always looked upon l was to
marry her. She seemed to consent.
She was rich, and we were poor. An
alliance would restore the balance of
power. | looked upon this as set
tied when the news comes that she
had married this Col. Graham, and
| am ruined. | will not rest until !
have my yrevenge upon her-aye, and
upon the colonel, too. 1t must be
done tonight"
at cannot be done tonight. The
~
At this moment very clumsily
put my foot on loose stone, Stun
bled and fell, and in doing so uttered
an exclamation, if not loud, excess
sively deep. When lookedu up and
over the hedge, the Hindoos and
their employer had gone
made my way back into the
house and found the party now as
sembled in the drawing room. l
looked around for the gentleman
whom | had seen talking to the
Hindoos. He was standing by u
young lady at the piano. The colo
mel was seated and talking to an eld-
erly lady and a beautiful creature
knew must be his young wife. He
caught my eye, and l saw by quick
movement that he wanted me to lis
ten to what was passing. drew be
hind the ladies unseen, and at the
same time the gentleman | had seen
in the woods sauntered up.
"Mrs. Roberts" said Col. Graham
to an old lady seated by his wife,
"do you not think that | am right in
not letting my wife wear the black
diamond? 1t carries misfortune with
it."
"Oh, but / do not believe in such
nonsense" said Mrs. Graham. 81
must have the diamond ring"
"My DEAR" laughed the old lady,
surely you have jewelry enough
But what is this wonderful stone ?"
"a black diamond which the Hin
docs say is possessed of the terrible
power of day. What truth there i,
in the legend | do not know, but
do know this-I have been able tC
trace it to eight owners, and they
have all been very unfortunate a
one time of their lives, and my grea
friend, Captain Waring, would wea
it at the battle of Jhansi, and h,
was one of the first killed. l took
the ring off his finger myself, but h,
made me promise l would neve
wear it, and l never have"
81 do not believe in such non
SENSE" said Mrs. Graham.
81 should think not, indeed" criet
the gentleman | had seen in tn
woods sauntering up. "The frs
time you gee a chance, wear it,"
"She had better not, said the col
onel quietly, and rising from hi
chair he strolled toward me. TIL
other gentleman Immediately drop
ped into the vacant seat and begai
to talk to the ladies.
"Who is that gentleman ?"
asked as the colonel joined me.
"My wife's cousin-Capt. Franci
Elmsleigh. A good fellow, but idl
hiiN NNNlhNttSlllls llt anu L uO llO
get ON very well together, but tina
does not matter. Now, about thes
things. Have you hit out any plan?
"If l wanted you at any time c
the night, how could call you with
out disturbing anyone else ?"
"Knock me up. know of n
other way. But l am always
heavy sleeper, and lately l hav
slept like top"
"In knocking you up I shall dis
turb the household. Go back t,
your friends. Do not appear suspi
cious. l am tired and will 90 Il
rest.
Hump! sleeps sounder than evel
does he ?" thought l, as l went VI
to my room. "Opium administered
by that old Indian nurse, or / am
Dutchman."
CHAPTER III.
THE BLACK DIAMOND FULFIs ITS FATI